Aluminum face plate covers?

[jerrygarcia]

I just got a new SkyHawk Case and was wondering, is there aluminum faceplates that I can replace on my old biege drives?

Mitsumi FDD
Liteon 16x DVD-Rom
LG? 24x CD-RW

I see that CompUSA carries a certain amount of aftermarket plates for certain drives.

[butch81385]

you could always do what i did and just stealth the drives... looks good and gives you a feeling of selfsatisfaction

[jerrygarcia]

More explaination?

[butch81385]

basically replace the bezels of the drives with the bezels of the case (pic included for example)

this was my first attempt at stealthing, a little sloppy, but i learned from my mistakes, yours would be a lot easier since they are one piece (mine had a plastic layer and metal layer)
let me know if you want some easy instructions (not responsible if they dont turn out good or anything gets broken)

so you know the top one is a dvd player
second is a cdrw
third is a dartboad
and i have a floppy next to bottom

[gbpec7]

Hmmm, If I were going to stealth my drives in that case I would first use the front bezels on my drives as a template for the bay covers to make the holes for the buttons, then I would redrill (or elongate) the mounting holes in the case so I could recess the drives alittle. Then I would mount the bay covers on the drive tray covers so that when the tray is opened the whole bay cover would come out with the tray, then when the tray is closed it would go back into place and somewhat hide the drive. You could mod the open buttons to suit your own taste. You would have to remove the attachment tabs on the bay covers of course and mod to suit your application and you may even have to sand or file alittle material off the edges of the original plastic drive bezel for enough clearence to recess the drive. I like the case you have and it's just my 2¢ worth. Either way let us know how it comes out.

Edit: For the floppy I would recess the drive the same way, cut a matching hole for the button and then cut a matching slot. It doesn't really hide the drives persay but it does cover them. You may want to paint those original covers with some silver paint so the beige color don't bleed through.

[sam]

hey gbpec7 you dont have to drill for the buttons i just press in the lower right coner of the cover and the drive opens

[JPMiller]

One other option is to go to menards/home depot and get a roll of metal duct tape...it is for use with the metallic insulation around heating ducts...it is a metal film with VERY sticky adhesive...I used it on some drives in a silver case very nicely...what i did was cut a section larger than what i needed...affixed it to the front of the drive after I had removed it and removed the buttons and led cover...)they can be superglued back like original) and pressed it on firmly without leaving bubbles or scratches... then nI took a razor blade and cut out slits to the corners of any holes (like trayslot) and folded it inward and cut off excess.... then snipped off outside edges and folded over and snipped off excess there too.
before I put back buttons and reglued , I painted them black wich is nice against the silver...could use the tape also... the tray cover was easiest.

[Urban_Squrill]

Menards wow I have not been there in ages. The last time I was there was like in 95.

[JPMiller]

I actually go there on a regular basis for modding supplies...I get alot of my Plexi windows there...I probably buy 80% of my modding materials there!

[gbpec7]

hey gbpec7 you dont have to drill for the buttons i just press in the lower right coner of the cover and the drive opens

sam, I thought about that but he needs to cut a hole for his floppy drive eject button so I figgerd doing the optical drives would match.
JPMiller, I know just what you're talking about......never thought about using it till now. Good idea .